The response comes after the City of Victoria floated the idea of donating the Sir John A. Macdonald statue to the province, rather than choosing a municipal location for its re-installation.

“I haven’t had any conversations with the mayor about Sir John A. Macdonald and if I see her coming I may well run the other way,” said Horgan during a press conference at the legislature Thursday. “That’s their problem to deal with and if we can help, certainly I’m prepared to talk with her about it.”

There was considerable public outcry after the stature of former prime minister Sir John A. Macdonald was removed from the front of Victoria’s City Hall in August 2018 as an act of reconciliation. Critics cite a lack of public consultation for the backlash.

Ultimately, at the Feb. 12 special committee of the whole meeting, council voted on a $10,000 cap to move the statue, and directed staff to research if donation was even a viable option before it was presented to the public for discussion.